GREAT FALLS — It wasn’t the results either team wanted at the State A tournament, but the Bigfork and Whitefish girls gained vital minutes of postseason basketball for their programs at the Four Seasons Arena.

“It was a learning experience for them,” Bigfork coach Isaac Martel said after his team fell to Hardin 57-46 Friday. “Until you get into this environment and play big physical teams, it’s just different.”  

Bigfork loses Paeten Gunlock to Carroll College going forward, but the team remains young with the majority of players being sophomores. 

“It’s a privilege to have kids like that,” Martel said. “She (Gunlock) is a great worker, obviously super talented and it shows every night, we’re going to miss her.” 

For Whitefish, their future remains just as bright, if not brighter.  

Freshman Avery Orme led Whitefish in scoring this tournament, which ended with a 59-35 loss to Laurel, and sophomores Allie Shors and Reese Hudson contributed huge moments. 

“As a young group, we learned how physical the game is at this level,” Whitefish coach Bob Bolam said. “It showed up in these two games and we’ve got to get a little stronger to handle that.” 

In Friday’s semifinals, Billings Central surged past Frenchtown 48-40 and Havre squeezed past Dillon 40-36.  

Hardin 57, Bigfork 46 

Gunlock left it all on the court — 28 points, six assists, five rebounds and two blocks — but Hardin caught fire late.  

“I thought we played really hard; that’s something I have been proud of all season,” Martel said. “No matter the situation, these kids fly around and play hard defense, sometimes it just doesn't go your way.” 

Kevee Rogers led Hardin (19-5) with 19 points, including three triples in the fourth quarter. Taylor Slater added 15, and Annika Big Man contributed 11. 

The Vals (15-9) trailed 21-10 in the second quarter until Gunlock found a pair of steals and scored eight straight, cutting into the deficit 22-18 at the break. 

The second half saw runs from both teams. To start the final frame, Hardin received a technical foul that put Gunlock at the line to tie the game at 36. Then the Rogers show began. 

She made two triples within a 30-second span, then added another with 4:00 remaining, giving Hardin a 48-41 lead. 

Bigfork        5    13    14    14    -    46 

Hardin        13    9    13    22    -    57 

BIGFORK — Keegan Campbell 2 0-0 6, Payton DeSpain 1 0-0 2, Eva Heil 0 0-0 0, Savanah Hedges 0 0-0 0, Josie Vick 0 0-0 0, Paeten Gunlock 9 9-10 28, Desi Dell 3 0-0 8, Emma Pargman 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 9-10 46. 

HARDIN — Zoey Real Bird 0 4-4 4, Zaylee Good Luck 0 2-2 2, Journey Hugs 0 0-0 0, Dakota Takes Enemy 1 1-2 4, Kevee Rogers 7 1-2 19, Marley Hugs 0 0-0 0, Annika Big Man 3 3-3 11, Taylor Slater 5 5-7 9. Totals 24 16-20 57.  

3-point goals — Bigfork 5 (Dell 2, Campbell 2, Gunlock), Hardin 7 (Rogers 4, Big Man 2, Takes Enemy). Fouls — Bigfork 15, Hardin 13. Technical foul — Old Elk. Fouled out — Real Bird. 

Laurel 59, Whitefish 35 

Orme scored 11 points for Whitefish, but Laurel jumped out to a 23-9 lead and never looked back. 

“We’re going to get back in the gym this summer and keep working,” Orme said. “I learned pretty quick how to play at this level of competition.” 

Emerson Gunther scored 20 points for Laurel (7-18), including four triples. Maggie Cooney added 14 points and six rebounds. 

The Bulldogs’ best run came in the third period, as Orme found back-to-back layups to cut into the Laurel lead 35-15. Then ended their first state tourament season since 2021 with a 16-8 record. 

“It felt like we were a little outgunned today,” Bolam said. “They hit a lot of shots and we just couldn't get many to fall.” 

Whitefish    5    6    15    9    -    35 

Laurel    16    17    17    9    -    59 

WHITEFISH — Emy Hansen 1 0-0 3, Reese Hudson 1 0-0 3, Sammie Shors 2 0-0 4, Clair Easterley 1 0-0 2, Vivian Triweiler-Schmidt 1 0-0 2, Avery Orme 5 1-4 11, Allie Shors 2 1-4 6, Stella Frisbee 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 2-8 35. 

LAUREL — Darby Boehler 3 0-0 7, Maggie Cooney 6 0-0 14, Jacey Jares 0 0-0 0, Emerson Gunther 8 0-0 20, Kinley Nelson 2 1-2 6, Madelyn Hutton 3 0-1 8, Taylor Slyder 0 0-0 0, Jamisen Harris 0 0-0 0, Avery Shanks 1 0-0 2, Alivia Hutton 1 0-0 2. Totals 34 1-5 59. 

3-point goals — Whitefish 2 (Orme, A. Shors), Laurel 10 (Gunther 4, Cooney 2, Hutton 2, Nelson, Boehler). Fouls — Whitefish 14, Laurel 10.  

Billings Central 48, Frenchtown 40 

Things looked good for Frenchtown (18-5) when Jezzy Palmer dropped a dime to Henley Harris for a transition layup and a 37-26 Bronc lead with 1:15 left in the third quarter. 

Central (20-2) scored the next 20 points. 

Annika Stergar began the run with two free throws and Kamryn Reinker hit back to-back 3-pointers to put the Rams up 38-37 with 4:03 left in the game. 

Reinker, the Montana Lady Griz signee, had 10 of her 13 points in the fourth quarter; Stergar had 27 points, 10 coming in that late surge. Emerson Dull’s free throw put the Rams up 46-37 with :19.5 remaining. 

Boise State recruit Mason Quinn had 27 points for the Broncs, including a 3-pointer with 6 seconds left. Frenchtown was seeking its first State A championship appearance. Central stayed on task for its third straight title. 

Havre 40, Dillon 36 

Amaya Jarvis scored 15 points, including a basket off her own steal that broke a 36-36 tie with 10.7 seconds left. 

Four straight points from Cassie Keller had put Dillon up 34-32 with 3:13 remaining; a put-back of a Jarvis airballed three by Ela Harbor got the Blue Ponies back in front, 36-34, with 1:06 left. 

Dillon’s Keller, who scored all of her six points down the stretch, tied it with a drive ahead of Jarvis’ heroics. Havre’s Katie Tilleman made a steal and two free throws with 3.1 seconds left to cap the scoring. 

Tess Tash had 13 points to lead the Beavers. Jarvis had nine boards, two assists and six steals to go with her 15 points.